Noelle Quinn added 13 points, and Ticha Penicheiro had 12 points
and four assists to help the Sparks (4-11) snap a four-game
losing streak and win for the first time since Candace Parker
separated her left shoulder June 13.

"It's pretty huge," Thompson said. "It's been a struggle for us
to do consistently whatever we say we're going to do. Now, we
know how to win without Candace. We feel that we can win without
Candace."

Michelle Snow led the Silver Stars (5-9) with 16 points and
eight rebounds, and Becky Hammon had 15 points and four assists.
San Antonio is 2-4 in its last six games.

San Antonio, which trailed by 18 points, took a 57-56 lead with
5:14 to play. But Los Angeles used a 12-0 surge to made it 68-57
with 1:47 left.

"We just dug a hole too early," Hammon said. "We made a good run
but when you battle back like that, you don't have enough energy
to keep that run going. It's just too hard to sustain for 20
minutes. It wasn't about the third quarter or the fourth
quarter. It was about the first quarter."

Sparks coach Jennifer Gillom said her team's determination made
the difference.

"I think this team just buckled down and said, 'Hey, we're not
losing again,"' said Gillom, whose team twice squandered
16-point leads in losses this season. "Now, it's time for us to
step up."